Press Release-09-074: NRC Directs Staff to Enhance Security of Cesium Chloride Radiation Sources While Alternatives Are ExploredML091050247 |
Person / Time |
---|
Issue date: |
04/15/2009 |
---|
From: |
Office of Public Affairs |
---|
To: |
|
---|
References |
---|
Press Release-09-074 |
Download: ML091050247 (2) |
|
|
---|
Category:Press Release
MONTHYEARML23166A0192023-06-15015 June 2023 News Release-23-020: NRC to Seek Public Comment on Environmental Review of Monticello Subsequent License Renewal Application ML23166A1112023-04-0303 April 2023 News Release-23-027: NRC Names New Chief Financial Officer ML23166A1022023-03-31031 March 2023 News Release-23-026: NRC Awards Fiscal Year 2023 Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions ML23166A0592023-03-17017 March 2023 News Release-23-025: NRC to Begin Reviewing Portions of NuScales Small Modular Reactor Standard Design Approval Application ML23166A0582023-03-14014 March 2023 News Release-23-024: NRC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revision to Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewing Reactor Licenses ML23166A0372023-03-14014 March 2023 News Release-23-023: International Safety Review Team Visits Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant ML23166A0302023-03-13013 March 2023 News Release-23-022: NRC Proposes Fy 2024 Budget to Congress ML23166A0292023-03-10010 March 2023 News Release-23-021: NRC Authorizes Restart of National Institute of Standards and Technology Reactor ML23165A2342023-03-0303 March 2023 News Release-23-019: NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nations Nuclear Power Plants ML23165A0262023-03-0303 March 2023 News Release-23-017: NRC Proposes to Amend Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees for Fiscal Year 2023 ML23165A0252023-03-0303 March 2023 News Release-23-016: NRC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revision to Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewing Reactor Licenses ML23165A0272023-03-0303 March 2023 News Release-23-018: NRC Accepts Application for Monticello Subsequent License Renewal; Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing ML23165A0222023-03-0202 March 2023 News Release-23-015: NRC Grants Timely Renewal Exemption to Allow Continued Operation of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant ML23163A2092023-03-0101 March 2023 News Release-I-23-001: NRC Names New Resident Inspector at Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant ML23163A2012023-03-0101 March 2023 News Release-23-014: NRCs Nicholas Melly Honored as a 2023 Federal Engineer of the Year ML23163A1982023-02-27027 February 2023 News Release-23-013 - Latest Edition of NRC Information Digest Now Available Online ML23163A0592023-02-27027 February 2023 News Release-23-012: NRC Issues Final Safety Evaluation Report for Shine Medical Technologies Operating License ML23139A0982023-02-24024 February 2023 News Release-23-011: NRC Releases La Crosse Nuclear Power Plant Site for Public Use ML23052A1012023-02-16016 February 2023 News Release-23-010: NRC Approves Proposed Disposal Plan at Church Rock Site in New Mexico ML23052A1002023-02-14014 February 2023 News Release-23-009: NRC Announces Additional Public Meeting, New Comment Deadline for Environmental Review of Comanche Peak License Renewal Application ML23052A0992023-02-0707 February 2023 News Release-23-008: NRC Issues Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Shine Medical Technologies Operating License ML23052A0982023-02-0101 February 2023 News Release-23-007: NRC Opens Hearing Opportunity for Abilene Christian University Research Reactor Construction Permit Application ML23052A0972023-01-30030 January 2023 News Release-23-006: NRCs 35th Annual Regulatory Information Conference to Focus on Navigating the Nuclear Future ML23052A0962023-01-27027 January 2023 News Release-23-005: NRC Makes Monticello Subsequent License Renewal Application Available for Public Inspection ML23052A0952023-01-24024 January 2023 News Release-23-004: NRC Proposing Revision to Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewing Reactor Licenses ML23052A0942023-01-12012 January 2023 News Release-23-003: NRC to Host 8th Annual Flood Hazard Assessment Workshop ML23052A0932023-01-0909 January 2023 News Release-23-002: *Updated* NRC Announces Hearing Opportunity for Comanche Peak License Renewal; Public Meeting in January 2023 to Discuss Environmental Review ML23005A0612022-12-19019 December 2022 News Release-22-054: NRC Makes Available Supplemental Environmental Report for Oconee Subsequent License Renewal ML23005A0602022-12-16016 December 2022 News Release-22-053: NRC Seeks Public Input on Environmental Issues for Proposed TRISO-X Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facility ML23005A0592022-12-12012 December 2022 News Release-22-052: NRC Names David Skeen New Director of International Programs ML23005A0582022-12-12012 December 2022 News Release-22-051: NRC Announces David Pelton as New Director, Office of Enforcement ML22346A0482022-12-0101 December 2022 News Release-22-050: NRC Announces Hearing Opportunity for Comanche Peak License Renewal; Public Meetings in January 2023 to Discuss Environmental Review ML22346A0492022-11-30030 November 2022 News Release-22-049: NRC Awards Research and Development Grants ML22346A0512022-11-21021 November 2022 News Release-22-048: NRC Accepts Application for Abilene Christian University Construction Permit ML22346A0522022-11-15015 November 2022 News Release-22-047: NRC to Review North Anna Subsequent License Renewal Report; Seeks Public Input on Environmental Issues ML22346A0532022-11-0707 November 2022 News Release-22-046: NRC to Conduct Special Inspection at University of Texas at Austin Research Reactor ML22346A0542022-11-0303 November 2022 News Release-22-045: NRC Publishes Annual Report to Congress on Nuclear Security Inspections ML22305A5472022-10-31031 October 2022 News Release-22-044: NRC Announces Headquarters and Regional Leadership Appointments ML22305A5462022-10-21021 October 2022 News Release-22-043: NRC Makes Available Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant License Renewal Application ML22305A5452022-10-19019 October 2022 News Release-22-042: NRC Expands Social Media Platforms by Adding Instagram ML22305A5432022-10-0707 October 2022 News Release-22-041: NRC Seeks Public Input on Environmental Issues for Review of Turkey Point Subsequent License Renewal Report ML22305A5422022-10-0303 October 2022 News Release-22-040: NRC Approves Probation for Mississippis Agreement State Regulatory Program ML22273A1272022-09-29029 September 2022 News Release-22-039: NRC Seeks Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Kairos Hermes Test Reactor Construction Permit ML22270A0792022-09-12012 September 2022 News Release-22-038: NRC Renews Operating License of Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility ML22255A0862022-09-0909 September 2022 News Release-22-037: NRC to Hold Decommissioning Plan Public Meeting for Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan ML22255A0852022-09-0909 September 2022 News Release-22-036: NRC Issues Ninth U.S. National Report for Convention on Nuclear Safety ML22231A1982022-08-11011 August 2022 News Release-22-034: NRC Commissioner Caputo Sworn in; Crowell Scheduled; Will Bring Commission to Full Strength ML22223A1242022-08-10010 August 2022 News Release-22-033: NRC Identifies Eight Abnormal Occurrence Events in Fy 2021 Annual Report to Congress ML22221A0522022-08-0808 August 2022 News Release-22-032: NRC Webinar to Discuss Review of Supplemental Environmental Reports for Subsequent License Renewal ML22215A2102022-08-0303 August 2022 News Release-22-031: NRC Authorizes Vogtle Unit 3 Fuel Loading and Operation 2023-06-15
[Table view]Some use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". |
Text
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.09-074 April 15, 2009 NRC DIRECTS STAFF TO ENHANCE SECURITY OF CESIUM CHLORIDE RADIATION SOURCES WHILE ALTERNATIVES ARE EXPLORED The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has directed the agency staff to continue enhancing the security of cesium chloride radiation sources, while encouraging research and further technological developments for alternative chemical forms of cesium-137.
The Commission agreed with the staffs position in a paper presented last November that near-term replacement of cesium chloride sources in existing blood, research, and calibration irradiators is not practicable and would be harmful to the delivery of medical care, research and emergency response capabilities.
Banning or phasing-out cesium chloride radiation sources at this time - before a replacement form or other technology is available - would be counterproductive, because society would lose the many benefits these sources provide in medicine, industry and research, NRC Chairman Dale E. Klein said.
The Commission noted that security controls already implemented over the past several years have significantly improved the security of these sources. However, it directed the staff to continue exploring new ways to improve their security further. Those efforts are to include working with federal and state agencies to define criteria for a dispersible source of concern that could then be used to guide research efforts to develop an alternative form of cesium.
The staff was also directed to develop a Commission policy statement detailing the Commissions emphasis on security of cesium chloride sources.
These radiation sources fall into the International Atomic Energy Agencys Categories 1 and 2, which the NRC considers most sensitive from a security standpoint. These sources are widely used in irradiators to sterilize human blood, in bio-medical and industrial research, and for calibration of radiation instrumentation and dosimetry.
Concern over the security of these sources has led some people to advocate banning cesium chloride altogether. In developing its recommendations for the Commission, the staff considered the February 2008 report of the National Academies, Radiation Source Use and Replacement, which recommended action to eliminate or replace these sources, but also advocated caution in replacing them because of the societal benefits they provide. It also consulted the NRCs Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes, which cited cesium chlorides advantages over other available technologies and recommended a continued emphasis on improving their security as an alternative to their replacement.
The NRC staff also held a two-day public forum in September 2008 that discussed alternative forms of cesium, alternative technologies, phase-out and transportation issues, additional enhanced security, and potential future requirements for use of the material. More than 200 people attended the forum. Written feedback following the forum overwhelmingly favored not rushing to replace cesium chloride sources because of the benefits they provide to the public.
News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.